Lubricator



P. CAUM.

LUBRIGATOR.. Y

Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

(N0-Model.)

I www/war. Fran/c 21am wmey! Witnesses:

M.; @MV

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE FRANK cAUM, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

LU B R GATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,970, dated August 4, 1896.

Application filed February 24, 1896. Serial No. 580,349. (No model.)

To @U whom it may concern: understood that it might be constructed for Be it lrnoivn that I, FRANK CAUM, a citizen use independently thereof, in which case it of the United States, residing at Hartford, in would simply be necessary to form the oil- 55 the county of Hartford and State of Connectichamber somewhat larger, in order to consticut, have invented certain new and useful tute an oil-reservoir adapted to hold a suffi- Improvements in Oil-Feed Devices or Lubricient quantity of oil at one time, and to supcators, of which the following is a speciiicaply such reservoir adjacent to the top rather tion. than at the side thereof; but, for the purposes 6o rlShis invention relates to an improved oilof this description, the device will be dero feed device or lubricator, and more particuscribed as adapted for use in connection with larly to means for clearing or freeing the an oil-distributing apparatus; audit comfeed duct or passage from accumulations of prises, in a general way, a chambered casgum or foreign. particles; and the object of ing having an oil-inlet and an oil-outlet,lto 6 5 the invention is to provide an improved degether with means whereby it can be placed I5 vice of this character, whereby the oil duct in position for use, said casing carrying the or passage can be quickly and easily freed oil duct or passage clearing means operable from the foreign particles that may settle to free Jthe same from accumulated matter.

therein, whereby thedetachment or separa In the preferred form thereof herein shown 7o tion of the parts of the device for this purand described, this improved oil-feeding de- 2o pose is rendered unnecessary. vice or lubricator comprisesasuitable casing In the drawings accompanying and formlO, having an oil-chamber 11, an oil-inlet ing part of this specification, Figure 1 is a 12, and an oil-outlet in the nature of a duct view of this improved oil-feed device or luor passage 13. 7 5 bricator having means whereby it is adapted The casing 10 is provided adjacent to the for attachment to the bearing of a journal inlet 12 With suitable meanssuch as a screwa-nd to a supply-conductor of an oil-distributq threaded extension lAl-Whereby the device ing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional can be coupled to the supply-pipe 15 of an view thereof, showing the oil-duct-clearing oil-distributing apparatus or system, and, ad- 8o means in inoperative position. Fig. 3 is also jacent to its outlet, With suitable meanssuch 5o a vertical sectional view thereof, showing the as a screw-threaded extension ififor the atoil-duct-clearing means in operative position tachment of a coupling member 17', whereby to clear the oil-feed duct or passage. the device can be secured to the engine or Similar characters of reference designate machine in connection with which it is to be 85 like parts in all the figures of the drawings. used.

"5 In oil-feed devices or lubricators of this The coupling memberlisinteriorlyscrew character heretofore in use, When theoil duct threaded at its upper end 18 to engage the or passage becomes clogged, which is frescrew-threaded extension 1G of the casino-g.

quently the case, owing to the nature of the and itis provided with an exteriorly-threaded 9o lubricant used, in order to clear such oil-duct extension 19 at its lower end, whereby it can 4o and free the same from the foreign particles engage the interior screw-threads of a shaftthat have settled therein, it has been necesbearing or other part of a machine. It will sary to separate the various parts of the debe understood, however, that any other suitvice so as to reach such duet or passage, thus able means might be used for securing this 95 causing the loss of considerable time and improved device in operative position.

45 labor. In order to obviate these disadvan- The oil-duct 13 extends from the chamber tages, I have provided an improved means 11 through the casing 10, and preferably terwhereby the oil duct or passage can be quickly minates in a nozzle 20 above a suitable chanand effectively cleared and freed from the nelor opening 2l,extendingthroughthe coup- Iso clogging materials. ling member 17, whereby the oil is conducted 5o This improved lubricator is adapted for .to the shaft or bearing. At the upper end of use in connection with suitable oil-distributthe oil-duct the casing has a suitable funneling devices or systems, although it will be shaped opening 22, forming a valve-seat for the valve, (hereinafter set forth,) and at the upper end of the channel 2l. the coupling member also has a suitable funnel-shaped opening 23, by means of which openings 22 and 23 the oil is conducted into the passages 13 and 21, respectively. i

The casing above the oil-chamber 11 is preferably provided with a suitable eXteriorly and interiorly threaded tubular extension 24' for the attachment of the oil duct or passage clearing means.

In the preferred form thereof herein shown and described thisimproved means for clearing the oil-duct of accumulations of gum and foreign particles, and thereby preventing the clogging thereof, and thus permitting the free and uninterrupted passage of the oil, comprises a supporting member preferably comprising a stem 30, extending` through the tubular extension 24, and havin g exterior screwthreads adapted to engage the interior threads of said extension, and in one construction thereof terminating in a suitable cone-shaped end whereby it may form a valve 31, adapted to engage the valve-seat 22. This stem is provided with a suitable elongated chamber 33, opening at the upper end thereof and terminating adjacent to its lower end, and with a central longitudinal opening or perforation 34, extending from the lower end of the chamber to the lower end of the stem.

Disposed in the chamber 33 and extending through the opening 34C thereof is a suitable plunger in the nature of a Lrod 35, havinga shoulder 36, adjacent to its upper end, and having a rod or handle 37, projecting beyond the stem for actuating said plunger. Intermediate of the lower end of said chamber and the shoulder 36 is disposed a suitable spiral spring 37, whereby the plunger will be held in position with its end flush with the lower end of the stem or valve.

As a means for closing the stem-chamber 33, and also for preventing the plunger from being forced from the chamber, a suitable interiorly-bored and eXteriorly-threaded removable plug 38 ts into the upper and of the chamber, and forms an abutment for the shoulder 3G.

Formed at the upper end of the stem is a milled head 39, whereby the stem and its valve can be adjusted toward and from the valve-seat of the oil-duct, and thereby regulate the supply of oil to such duct, and also close the same against the passage of oil, if

desired.

In order to prevent the exit of oil from the upper portion of the casing around the stem, a suitable interiorly-threaded cup-shaped cap 40 fits around said stem and engages the eX- terior threads of the extension 24, suitable packing being interposed between the upper end of said extension and the cap.

In the use -of this improved oil-feed device or lubricator it is secured in position by means of the extension 19 of the coupling member 17, fitting, for instance, within the bearing of a shaft, and the supply-pipe 15 is coupled adjacent to the oil-inlet 12 by any suitable coupling, as 41, whereby oil can be fed into the chamber 11, and from thence to the duct or passage 13 and to the shaft or bearing.

When the oil duct or passage 13 becomes clogged and it is desired to free or open the same, the plunger 35 is depressed, Fig. 3. against the action of its spring 37', whereby it will pass through said oil duct or passage 13, and remove the accumulated matter therefrom, and thoroughly clear the same for the passage of the oil therethrough, and thus obviate the necessityT of uncoupling the various parts of the device in order to be able to reach said oil duct or passage.

lhen it is desired to regulate the supply of oil, the feed of which can be ascertained by means of the sight-openings t2 in the coupling member, the stem is adjusted by means of its head 39 to permit the valve to move toward or from its seat, whereby the passage of oil to the oil duct or passage will be regulated.

If it is desired to stop the feed of the oil, it is simply necessary to seat the valve in its seat, whereby the passage of oil to the duct is prevented.

By means of this improved oil-feed device or lubricator, embodying means for freeing the oil-duet from foreign particles and thereby preventing the lubricant from clogging the same, said duct or passage can be quickly and .easily cleared at all times to permit the free and uninterrupted passage of the oil therethrough, whereby the necessity of detaching or separating the various. parts or' the device in order to reach the oil-duct is obviated.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A lubricator comprising a chambered casing having an oil inlet and outlet duct or passage; a valve carried by-said casing and having an opening extending therethrough: a plunger carried by said valve and having its lower end in position to enter said oil-passage and having its upper end projecting beyond said valve,said plunger having a shoulder thereon; and a spring intermediate said shoulder and the lower wall of said valve for actuating said plunger in one direction.

2. The combination of a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage; means for regulating the feed of the oil; and independent reciprocative means carried by said feed-regulating means, and operable to clear said duct or passage from accumulated matter.

.3. A lubricator comprising a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage; a valve operative to regulate the feed of the oil; independent means operable within said valve to clear said duct or passage from accumulated matter; and a spring for actuating said passage-clearing means in one direction.

IOO

4. The combination of a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage; means for regulating the feed of the oil; and independent means carried by said feed-regulating means and disposed outside of said outlet duct or passage, and operable to enter and clear said duct or passage.

5. The combination of a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage, and having a valve-seat at the upper end of said outlet-passage; a stem carried by said chamber, and having its lower end adapted to engage the valve-seat to regulate the feed of oil through said passage; a plunger carried by said stem, and operable to clear the said duct or passage, and means for ac tuating said plunger in one direction.

6. The combination of a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage, the latter having a valveseat at its upper end; a cliambered stem carried by said casing, and operable to have its lower end engage the valve-seat; a plunger carried by said stem, and having a shoulder; an actuating-rod projecting from said stem; and a spring in said chamber, and in engagement with said shoulder.

7. A lubricator comprising a chambered casing having means adapted for attachment to a machine or engine, and means adapted for attachment to the supply-conductor of an oil distributing apparatus or system, and having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage, and a valve-seat at the upper end of said outlet duct or passage; a stem carried by said casing and operable to have its lower end engage the valvefseat; a plunger carried by said stem, and operable to clear said outlet duct or passage, and a spring for actuating said plunger in one direction.

8. A lubricator comprising a chambered casing having means adapted for attachment to a machine or engine, and means adapted for attachment to the supply-conductor of an oildistributing apparatus or system, and having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage, and a valve-seat at the upper end of said outlet duct or passage, said casing also having an extension above the outlet duct or passage; a chambered stem carried by said casing, and operable to have its lower end engage the valve-seat a plunger carried by said stem, and having a shoulder and an actuating-rod, a spring for actuating said plunger in one direction; and a plug encircling said actuating-rod and closing the upper end of the stem-chamber, and forming an abutment for the shoulder.

9. A lubricator comprising a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage, and having a valve-seat at the upper end of said outlet duct or passage; a coupling member secured to said casing, and having means adapted for attachment to a bearing or other support, and also having an oil-channel 5 said casing having means for attachment to the supply-conductor of an oil apparatus or system, and also having an interiorly and eXteriorly threaded tubular extension; an eXtcriorly-threaded and cham? bered stem carried by said extension, and operable to have its lower end engage the valve- Seat; a plunger carried by said stem, a spring for returning said plunger to its normal, inoperative position; and an interiorly-threaded cap surrounding the stem, and engaging the exterior threads of the extension.

10. The combination of a chambered casing having an oil-inlet and an outlet duct or passage; rotary reciprocative means for regulating the feed of the oil; and independent reciprocative means in position and operable Within said regulating means to clear said duct or passage from accumulated matter.

FRANK CAUM. lVitnesses FRED. J. Donn, HEATH SUTHERLAND. 

